Another probe ordered against Akbaruddin Owaisi over hate speech

Warangal: Another probe has been ordered against AIMIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi over an alleged hate speech.

A magistrate's court here on Wednesday directed Kazipet police to investigate and register an FIR against Owaisi, following a complaint by advocate Kotha Ravi of Bapujinagar, Kazipet.

Ravi has alleged that he saw a video of a provocative speech by Owaisi on the Internet, which targeted a community.

Earlier, Additional Judicial First Class Magistrate Ajesh Kumar rejected two petitions filed by Owaisi's counsel urging the court to shift him to Banjara Hills hospital in Hyderabad for better treatment and also for moving him from Adilabad district jail to Chanchalguda jail in the state capital.

The magistrate dismissed both petitions as "not maintainable" and directed Adilabad jail superintendent to provide best available medical facilities to the MLA.

In its remand application, the police slapped additional charges against Owaisi under five different sections of the IPC.

The additional charges include 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), 124-A (sedition), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and section 505 (statements causing public mischief).

Owaisi had earlier been booked under IPC Section 121 (waging or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war, against the government of India) and 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, language etc and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony).

FIRs were registered against Owaisi in Adilabad and Nizamabad districts after the legislator had allegedly used inflammatory and derogatory language against a particular community during his public speeches last month, while the Osmania University police in Hyderabad booked him subsequently following a court directive.

There was tension in Adilabad and Nizamabad districts where a bandh was called by AIMIM against Owaisi's arrest. Most shops and business establishments in several localities of old city in Hyderabad, whose Chandrayangutta seat he represents in the state assembly, remained closed.

Owaisi was arrested on Tuesday following a series of medical tests soon after he sought four days time to appear before the police citing health reasons.